Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
45. This seems to me to be a silly concern, really.
Wed Sep 16, 2015, 09:39 AM
Sep 2015

First, any sex robot with enough similarity to a real human being will be so expensive that nobody will be able to afford one. Those who could afford to buy one are probably already able to find willing human partners for sex.

Second, the very best humanoid robots today are so clearly non-human that the idea of them replacing human interactions is laughable. I follow this technology pretty closely. The Japanese have built some decent simulacra, but they're still clumsy and mechanical in their movements, facial expressions and voices. Interesting technology, but not convincing.

Third, there are already quite a few devices used by people for sexual purposes. Most are clearly not attempting to be complete substitutes for human interactions, and they're selling like hotcakes. Even catalogs targeting elderly people have pages of sexual devices in them. They're ubiquitous, cheap, and pretty effective, apparently.

People taking sexual release into their own hands, so to speak, have always been around. It's pretty much a universal thing. No elaborate technology is required to achieve an orgasm. So, why on Earth would people pay the equivalent of the cost of a new car for a clumsy simulation of a human being?

I realize that this is the topic of the day on DU, but it's really a silly issue. I can't see how technologically assisted masturbation is going to affect how people relate to each other, really. I think it's a false concern, frankly.

A poor premise, followed by really asinine questions. ChairmanAgnostic Sep 2015 #1
More from the Abstinence Only Immoral Minority FreakinDJ Sep 2015 #28
"We’re moving towards a future of sex with robots whether we like it or not." PoliticAverse Sep 2015 #2
"I'm still waiting for the flying car I was promised in the future." graegoyle Sep 2015 #3
that is a separate issue of ai agency. Warren Stupidity Sep 2015 #12
What if your car doesn't want to fly? Dr. Strange Sep 2015 #21
It doesn't, it already said. n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2015 #22
My car is an idiot that doesn't know the difference between a door and a jar. Thor_MN Sep 2015 #73
Have mechanical phalluses made men into depersonalized sex-objects? graegoyle Sep 2015 #4
Good question, nowhere in the article is the name "sybian" mentioned. n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2015 #5
Great point. ChairmanAgnostic Sep 2015 #71
What the heck? Egnever Sep 2015 #6
I come to the exact opposite conclusion. PeteSelman Sep 2015 #7
Some people need to get a life and stop worrying what other people Katashi_itto Sep 2015 #8
Some busybodies want to control your sex life Cayenne Sep 2015 #51
But suppose someone wants a robot Shankapotomus Sep 2015 #9
My answer to all questions is who the fuck cares unless and until the machines are sentient? TheKentuckian Sep 2015 #10
This is perhaps the most ridiculous nonsense I've read here in the last five minutes. Warren Stupidity Sep 2015 #11
As the article says, this is about the cultural implications, not the sex itself. DetlefK Sep 2015 #16
A string of rhetorical questions is not an argument jberryhill Sep 2015 #18
thank you MsJaneFuzzyWuzzy Sep 2015 #47
+1000 smirkymonkey Sep 2015 #58
touch me, touch me, touch me, Oh you know what sucks take the wig off, have to reboot the bluetooth snooper2 Sep 2015 #49
This message was self-deleted by its author EvilAL Sep 2015 #13
Is that what passes for reasoned argument these days? jberryhill Sep 2015 #14
Spot on.... nil desperandum Sep 2015 #36
Your robot, your choice (nt) The Straight Story Sep 2015 #15
I think it will lead to objectification and mistreatment of robots. bemildred Sep 2015 #17
Why the hell not? Everything else does already. Orrex Sep 2015 #19
What? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #20
Is there a different fee depending on how your image is 'used'? n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2015 #24
Yes. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #26
Your deal sounds reasonable. Renew Deal Sep 2015 #33
I can't believe we're even having this conversation. Nuclear Unicorn Sep 2015 #23
It's the Internet, play along. n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2015 #25
Are you in favor of getting rid of vibrators, too? I understand some people name theirs........ djean111 Sep 2015 #27
Someone could tape a celebrity's face onto a vibrator! It's only a matter of time! randome Sep 2015 #37
If I had to place bets either way, I would totally bet that this has happened already. nt stevenleser Sep 2015 #42
Or your daughter. Think of the children! Warren Stupidity Sep 2015 #60
No - Robot Sex Will Lead To The Estrangement Of Both Genders cantbeserious Sep 2015 #29
And why only women? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #30
...or transgender sex robots jberryhill Sep 2015 #41
Do I have to go with it to Home Depot and Ikea on Saturday morning? Facility Inspector Sep 2015 #31
No, but, remember, its annoying relatives are coming over on Thursday for dinner jberryhill Sep 2015 #39
The real concern is conception liberal N proud Sep 2015 #32
Exactly Renew Deal Sep 2015 #34
Will it come with a warranty? djean111 Sep 2015 #38
I'll stick with the WalMart models. BlueJazz Sep 2015 #35
Like several others, I see this the exact opposite way. stevenleser Sep 2015 #40
Pedos, maybe, but rape is about power. RadiationTherapy Sep 2015 #44
If we can go to the movies and suspend disbelief enough to enjoy some of the surreal stuff happening stevenleser Sep 2015 #46
A sentient rape therapy robot could provide Warren Stupidity Sep 2015 #61
First, yes, the OP is misguided. Second, a being either has agency that can be dominated RadiationTherapy Sep 2015 #64
If the emulation of agency passes for agency it is sufficient. Warren Stupidity Sep 2015 #66
I think sexbots are the perfect answer to human sexuality. betsuni Sep 2015 #43
This seems to me to be a silly concern, really. MineralMan Sep 2015 #45
yeah-- I agree. This is a really marginal issue that won't affect more than a tiny number of people Fast Walker 52 Sep 2015 #52
Nah, they'll be rented by the hour in mock brothels, each room a different fantasy. hunter Sep 2015 #70
What happens when the robots figure out they don't need us? Renew Deal Sep 2015 #48
Wouldn't this really be just masturbation? leftyladyfrommo Sep 2015 #50
Don't date robots! NuclearDem Sep 2015 #53
. NobodyHere Sep 2015 #59
Nothing against robo sex here damnedifIknow Sep 2015 #54
Wait a minute.... they could make a vibrator that exactly replicates some real man's penis! Nye Bevan Sep 2015 #55
The true crime would be if it ran on Windows 10. Glassunion Sep 2015 #56
The only important question is whether it would spill over into real life ecstatic Sep 2015 #57
Or the rapist is fully satisfied by the experience Warren Stupidity Sep 2015 #62
However, if he is banned from being intimate with a robot that has your face, Nye Bevan Sep 2015 #63
Duplicate DavidDvorkin Sep 2015 #65
So IOW, the horrible treatment of women and children will get worse? Rex Sep 2015 #67
. Glassunion Sep 2015 #68
Solves the MRA problem since they don't seem to want real women anyway. Katashi_itto Sep 2015 #69
BINGO!!!! Skittles Sep 2015 #72
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Robot sex would lead to o...»Reply #45